Careers @ MSU

Working/Functional Title

Chairperson - Department of Horticulture

Position Summary

The Department of Horticulture in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University (MSU) invites applications for Department Chairperson. The department seeks a dynamic and creative leader who will strategically focus the intellectual resources of our faculty, students, and staff. The Department’s size, multi-disciplinary focus, and demonstrated commitment to the land-grant philosophy represent a substantial opportunity for a leader with the vision and desire to broaden our impacts across the Great Lakes region, the nation, and the globe. The position is a full-time, 12-month tenure system appointment.

Key responsibilities of the Chairperson are to:

• Provide leadership for advancing and articulating the mission, vision, and values of the Department within the broader mission of CANR and MSU;
• Foster a culture of transparency and equity that supports the success of a large, diverse, and inclusive community of faculty, staff, and students;
• Promote a collaborative attitude that fosters collegiality, civility, diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect among peers, staff and students in classrooms and the work environment;
• Work cooperatively within the departmental governance structure (e.g., faculty-elected advisory committee);
• Recruit and retain outstanding faculty and staff, assign responsibilities, evaluate performance, and promote faculty, student and staff development with transparency and empathy;
• Supervise staff positions that require annual reviews, goal setting, leadership, and consistent oversight;
• Manage and administer the Department budget, allocate resources equitably, and provide leadership in the procurement of financial and structural resources necessary to enable the Department’s success;
• Serve as liaison and advocate for the Department within the larger governance structure of the College and University, and with other Departments and Colleges;
• Promote the Department’s teaching, research, Extension, and outreach programs to state, regional, national and international audiences;
• Maintain and enhance existing relationships with stakeholders, commodity groups, and donors.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Plant Science or closely related field

Desired Degree

Other -Horticulture

Minimum Requirements

Qualified candidates must: (a) have earned a doctorate in horticulture, plant science, or closely-related discipline and meet the requirements for tenure at the rank of full professor in the Department of Horticulture at MSU; (b) have experience in administration of personnel, budgets, and programs; (c) demonstrate outstanding leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills necessary to lead a diverse community; (d) have the ability to communicate effectively with administrators, faculty, staff, students, stakeholders, donors, and other groups, and (e) demonstrate a commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in a range of academic and professional activities.

Desired Qualifications

Desired qualifications include: 

• An outstanding record of achievement, including a demonstrated record of teaching, research and/or Extension scholarship, service, leadership, team building and collaboration, and developing and fostering partnerships.
• Experience administering a large, multidisciplinary team with a variety of appointments and assignments.
• Experience overseeing academic department budgets, an ability to garner additional funds and resources for programs and experience with advancement and development.
• Experience building capacities with horticultural industries through integrated programs in research, education, and outreach and engagement, consistent with the land-grant mission.
• Experience securing financial support from external donors (e.g., gifts, endowments, capitol campaign development).

Required Application Materials

To apply, applicants must submit an application that includes:

(1) a letter of application indicating your interest in the position and the Department
(2) a statement of administrative philosophy and vision for strategically defining program direction and future growth, and fostering faculty/staff/student development and success (3 pages maximum)
(3) a narrative describing administrative and professional experiences that relate to the Chairperson’s responsibilities (1500 words max.)
(4) a statement of how you will contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion in alignment with the department’s strategic goals (2 pages maximum)
(5) a complete curriculum vitae. Candidates selected for initial interviews will be asked to provide contact information for five references.

Special Instructions

For more information on this position, please contact the search committee chair:

Dr. Bert Cregg
Department of Horticulture
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-614-4406
cregg@msu.edu

Review of Applications Begins On

01/15/2025

Website

hrt.msu.edu

Department Statement

Commitment to Creating a Sense of Belonging: 

Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi people. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. 

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University is committed to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity. We are an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. The CANR is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion.  Candidates are invited to view our Department and College norms.   

About the Department

The Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University (MSU) has a long history as one of the premier horticultural programs in the US. MSU Horticulture faculty, staff and students are recognized leaders in integrating research, teaching, and engagement to positively affect local, regional, national, and global outcomes in agriculture and the plant sciences.

The Department has 33 faculty members and 25 staff positions, offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and participates in a two-year certificate program through MSU’s Institute of Agricultural Technology. The undergraduate program (100-110 students) offers a single B.S. degree, with three concentration areas and several relevant minors. The Department also has an active graduate program (30-35 students) that draws top students nationally and internationally.

Plant Sciences at MSU:

MSU is a global leader in basic and applied plant science research, with over 150 faculty members engaged in research ranging from sustainable agriculture and ecology to breeding, genomics and biochemistry, and other disciplines. Extensive laboratory, greenhouse, growth chamber, and field-based facilities are available for plant growth research, including biochemical, imaging, and gene expression analyses, bioinformatics support, and plant transformation. Horticulture faculty also conduct research at the Horticulture Teaching and Research Center on campus and several field research and demonstration centers around the state.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.